Meet the Cyclone Gymnasts: Courtney Horstman

AMES, Iowa - Gymnastics has been a central part of Courtney Horstman's life since a young age. She began competing when she was only five years old, and dedicated hours of time to the sport throughout her club level career. Though she's faced several challenges, her love for gymnastics and commitment to improving have helped her excel and reach her goal of becoming a college gymnast.

Horstman began homeschooling during sixth grade and continued all the way until her junior year. During this time, she competed with Monmouth Gymnastics Elite. She committed a majority of her time to gymnastics, spending more than 40 hours a week in the gym.

“I was in the gym eight hours a day Monday through Friday. I had a five-hour practice on Saturday, and then I was off on Sunday.”

Spending so much time on gymnastics left little time for a social life. Horstman explains that the majority of her social life included her teammates. Even though being a gymnast wasn't always easy growing up, she always had a good support system at home.

“My parents were always there for me. They told me not to quit because big things will happen. Earning a scholarship here, that's really big, so I'm excited that I stuck with it.”

Not only did she earn a scholarship to Iowa State, Horstman performed well throughout her club career. In 2009, she took second in the all-around at the New Jersey Level 10 State Championships. She also earned first place on bars and second on floor at the meet.

Two years later, she placed fourth all-around and third on beam at the 2011 State Championships. The same year she took third in the all-around at Regionals, along with second on bars and fourth on floor. This helped her qualify for Nationals, where she took seventeenth overall.

Horstman has a very unique way of preparing for these meets.

“I actually have to listen to all Justin Bieber songs before a competition. It started the year I made it to Regionals and then went to Nationals. I just listened to Justin Bieber all the way, like an hour and a half car ride, to the competition. I listened to him the whole time and I had an amazing meet, I came in third place at a regional meet and that's big. At Nationals, floor was my last event and one of his songs came on. I did probably one of the best floor routines of my life.”

It hasn't always been easy for the Englishtown, New Jersey native. Injuries have prevented her from competing several seasons of her career, including her first season with Iowa State. Horstman is out this season after having two separate surgeries on her shoulder. She is currently rehabbing and working out to try and get back in shape for next season,

“I want to get myself back and ready and mentally prepared for next year. I really want to compete next year.”